She researches the brains of people who died by suicide to identify biomarkers. Identifying biomarkers of suicide in the human brainKulviwat found differences in the brains of 10 people who died by suicide compared to the control group: 10 people who died of other causes. The brains of those who died by suicide, which were donated for study by their next of kin, contained higher numbers of inflammatory cytokines. Though treatments for suicidal behavior exist, including psychotherapy and medications, suicide rates have mostly increased over the last 20 years. Hearing different perspectives and questioning why suicide research isn't progressing as much as other fields — like cancer or infectious diseases — inspired her research, she said.

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Persons: Natasha Kulviwat, —, Gordon E, Moore, Natasha, it's, Kulviwat, she's, Dr, David Feifel, Feifel, What's, I'm Organizations: Regeneron, Science, Engineering, Service, Columbia University, Society for Science, Centers for Disease Control, University of California, Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute —, National Institute of Health, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Locations: claudin, University of California San Diego